Dispensing receptacle



.Dec. 21 1926.- I 1,611,780

- R. R. RICKETTS Patented Deco 2i, i926,

ll f i Email RICHARD B. RICKETTS, GE SPRINGFIELD, EEISSOURZ, ASSEEGIJOE 1 G SPRIFIIGFIELD SEED COMPANY, 015 SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, A

DISPEHSING RECETETACLE.

Application filed. May 28,

My invention relates to the general type of dispensing receptacles wherein means is associated directly with the receptacle for effecting the delivery of a predetermined portion of its contents,

It is the purpose of my present invention to provide a dispensing receptacle whose exterior shape corresponds substantially to that of the ordinary box carton and in which no special formation of the interior of the receptacle is required, or in other Words my invention converts an ordinary commercial box carton into a dispensing receptacle Without sacrificing any of the advantages of such carton as to space occupied in storage or shipment and without materially curtailing the normal interior capacity of the carton.

It is also the purpose or my invention to provide a dispensing receptacle construction which will readily adapt itself to the ordi-' nary commercial box carton in which seeds are stored and which will constitute a quick and accurate means for dispensing such Seeds in successive predetermined quantity for retail distribution in small packages such as the usual envelope; but it will be understood in this connection, however, that while my invention is particularly adapted for dispensingseeds in predetermined quantity it can be employed for dispensing any other appropriate material.

Other purposes and advantages of my in vention will appear from the detail description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper end of a cardboard carton showing my invention incorporated the measuring element or cup being in the position it would occupy with respect to the carton when eiiecting delivery of a predetermined portion of the contents;

Fig. 2, a view similar to Figure 1 with the measuring element or cup in the position it would occupy with respect to the carton when not in useor when receiving a filling from the contents of the carton;

Fig. 3, a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a view similar to 3 with the parts in the position shown in Fi ure 1;

1926. Serial No. 112,299.

11 adapted to swing outwardly and downw rdly with respect to the carton. At the upper edge of the opening in the carton left by the flap 11, I provide upward y diverging slits 12-12 located respectively at the sides of the opening. In order to strengthen the hinge of the flap 11 beyond that inherent to the material of the carton I secure against the inner faces of the carton and flap a strip 13 of relatively strong flexible material, such as linen cloth or the like. However, the'use of this strip is entirely optional, the strength of the cart-on material as a rule being ample when it is intended to discard the carton when emptied. The measuring and dispensing element of my receptacle is indicated generally at and is in the form of a cup like member embodying opposite long and short sides 1% and 15, respectively, corresponding opposite sides 16-16 and a bottom 17. The sides 16 are wider than of the opening left by the flap 11, somewhat longer than the side 15, and terminate short of the free end the side 14, said sides 16 having their edges between the sides 14 and 15 curved as at 18. In associating the measuring and dispensin element A with the ca ton said element is secured in any suitable manner to the flap 11 with the side 1% engaged against the inner face of the flap the free end of said side extending a short distance beyond the free end of the flap. By this construction it will be apparent that the element A is pivotally movable from the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 to the position shown in Figures 1 and i and vice-versa. -'ihe position of the measuring element A as shown in Figures 1 and 4: is determined by ngagement of the free edge of the side with the inner face of the side of the carton, while the position of said the height element shown in Figures 2 and 3 is determined by engagementof the side 14 with the outer face of the side of the carton and in either of these positions said element A functions to close the opening in the carton left by the flap 11.

During pivotal movement of the element A from one of its limiting positions to the other the sides 16 are engaged respectively in the slits 12 and the curvature of the edges 18 with respect to the hinge of the element is such that as said element is swung from the position shown in Figure 2 to the posi tion shown in Figure 1 the sides 16 will move further into respective slits and will be spread apart, this being due to the fact that the distance between the hinge and the points of intersection of the curved edges 18 with the side 14 is less than the distance be tween the hinge and the points of intersection of said curved edges with the side 15, said sides 16 being of suitable flexible material to permit such action. During this operation it is also necessary that the side 15 accommodate itself to the spreading apart of the sides 16 and to this end 1 construct the side 15' of greater width at its outer end than at its inner end and provide same centrally with a crimp 20 which, owing to the inherent resilient nature of the materialfromwhich the element A is formed, provides a structure acting as a spring to permit but yieldingly resist the spreading action of the sides 16 as the latter move inwardly of the slits 12. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the yielding resistance to the spreading apart of the sides 16 forces the latter into such frictional engagement with the edges of the slits 12 to provide a lock of su'liicient strength to hold the element A in any pivotal position about its hinge, and it is further apparent that as the element A is swung from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 the construction described will operate to contract said sides 16.-

The manner of using my invention will be obvious. The carton 10 is filled with the desired quantity of seed and closed all in the usual manner and with the measuring and dispensing element in the position shown in. Figure 2. To then dispense a predetermined quantity of seed from the carton it is only necessary to successively reverse the position of the carton with respect to its top and bottom to fill the measuring element or cup A. Said element is then swung to the position shown in Figure 1 and its contents emptied by tilting the carton in an obvious manner. The element A is then returned to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the operation repeated. In this operation it will be noted that the element- A serves to close the opening in the carton both during the filling and emptying of the element. It will be further noted that if th carton is permanently sealed at its top closure the arrangement and construction of the element A produces a non-refillable dispensing receptacle as far as practical purposes are concerned. By moving the element A about one-quarter of its range from the position shown in Figure 2 and then shaking the carton slightly while its open side is disposed lowermost the entire contents of the carton may be emptied.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having an opening in a wall thereof and also having a pair of diverging slits in said wall communicating with the opening, and a measuring cup pivoted to the receptacle for movement to either of two positions and having portions traveling in said slits respectively to provide frictional resistance to its pivotal movement, said cup being adapted in one of said two positions to receive material contained in the receptacle and in the other position to deliver material so received through said opening to the exterior of the receptacle.

' 2. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having an opening in a wall thereof and also having a pair of diverging slits in said wall communicating with the opening, a measuring cup pivoted to the receptacle for movement to either of two positions and having portions traveling in said slits respectively to provide frictional resistance to its pivotal movement and means embodied in said cup operating to intensify said frictional resistance, said cup being adapted in one of said two positions to receive material contained in the receptacle and in. the other position to deliver material so received through said opening to the ex terior of the receptacle.

3. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having an opening in a wall'thereof and also having a pair of slits in said wall communicating with said opening, and a measuring cup pivoted to the receptacle for movement through said opening to either of two positions, in one of which it may re ceive material contained in the receptacle and in the other of which it may deliver material contained therein to the exterior of the receptacle, said cup including four sides, edge portions of two of which are disposed within said slits to travel therethrough duringpivotal movement of the cup, and another of which is crimped and connected with the sides having their edge portions disposed to travel in said slits so as to force said edge portions into frictional engagement with walls of said slits.

4-. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having an opening in a wall thereof, a measuring cup pivoted to said receptacle for movement through said opening to either of two positions, in one of which it may receive material contained in the receptacle and in the other of which it may deliver material contained therein to the exterior of the receptacle, the wall of said' receptacle having a pair of diverging slits formed therein and said cup including a pair of flexible portions traveling in said slits during pivotal movements of the cup, said portions being maintained under a bending moment by the Walls of said diverging slits to frictionally resist pivotal movements of the cup.

5-. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having an opening in a wall thereof, a measuring cup pivoted to said receptacle for movement through said opening to either of two positions, in one of which it may receive material contained in the receptacle and in the other of which it may deliver material contained therein to the exterior of the receptacle, the wall of said receptacle having a pair of diverging slits formed therein and said cup including a pair of flexible portions traveling in sa1d slits during pivotal movements of the cup, said portions being maintained under a bending moment by the walls of said di verging slits to frictionally resist pivotal movements of the cup, and means connecting said portions intensifying their frictional engagement with walls of said slits.

6. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having an opening in a wall thereof, a measuring cup pivoted to the receptacle for movement in said opening, and a means embodies in one side of said cup operating to force other sides of the cup into contact with portions of the wall of said receptacle to provide frictional resistance to pivotal movement of the cup in said opening.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

RICHARD R. RIOKETTS. 

